Chapter 23: Deal

On a shore, Hijiri waited.

He had sent a shadow clone ahead to meet the clan head of a particularly strong clan. His objective? Trade the Yin technique that he has obtained together with some of the ones he created/plagiarized with their original techniques.

One has to know that the value of what he is offering is not small at all. Only the Yin Release technique would allow many clans to raise their strength a lot.

So which clan is he trading with?

A flux of memories entered Hijiri's head. He smiled: the first step has been successful.

A ninja squad composed of two males and guided by a female appeared from the forest. They had a characteristic in common: their red hair.

Yes, Hijiri went to the Land of Whirlpools to trade with the Uzumaki clan.

The ninja squad stopped a few meters from him. The woman said: "Hi stranger. My name is Aika Uzumaki. You have successfully got our attention. Me and my team are here to escort you to our clan."

(Hijiri): "Pleased to meet you, Aika. My name is Hijiri Hyuga and as I stated before have a deal with your clan. Please, Lead the way."

(Aika): "Follow me."

Aika and her team started tree-jumping towards a spot in the center of the island. Hijiri followed.

Soon they arrived in a small but flourishing village. While it was still not established as Uzushiogakure, one could still see that it was different from the other clans' current bases. It was more similar to the future Konoha, except smaller and more traditional looking. 

Aika explained to you with great pride that it was because of their fuinjutsu skills. They sold a lot of the sealing scrolls and explosive tags used by various ninja clans and that allowed them to avoid going to missions often to prosper.

Soon you arrived inside the principal meeting room. Inside, on a big pillow, sat cross-legged the leader of the Uzumaki Clan: Ashina Uzumaki.

He was a stern man with fading red hair, a mustache, and a squared-off goatee.

Hijiri sat crosslegged on a thin pillow in front of him.

(Ashina): "Greetings Hijiri of the Hyuga clan. What brings you here? My men talked about a business deal. What position does someone so young hold in the Hyuga clan like you so that he can speak for it?"

(Hijiri): "Esteemed Leader of the Uzumaki clan. I held the position of an Elder in charge of the Library in my clan. But I am not here as a member of my clan but as an individual. What I trade is what I obtained on my own and not from the clan."

Ashina furrowed his eyebrows and then said: "You promised a deal that could help our clan as a whole and you claim that it comes from you alone and not your clan? What do you own that is so valuable?"

(Hijiri): "I offer an A-rank and two B-rank jutsus along with an S-rank method. The jutsus are my creations while the knowledge is something I acquired in the Land of Water. The A-rank jutsu can help you master shape transformation while one of the B-rank jutsus can speed up one's learning."

Ashina showed a surprised expression: "If it is as you say, the jutsus could definitely help our clan. But right now I am more curious about the S rank knowledge that you mentioned."

(Hijiri): "The S-rank method allows one to create weapons of superior quality. It is divided into two parts. One can provide a way of smelting that greatly strengthens the ores. The second part is about injecting one's will into the weapon, giving it rare properties. I have some examples of what this method can produce."

(Ashina): "It's indeed something that could help our clan. Before you give us a demonstration, I have to ask you: what do you want to exchange those for?"

(Hijiri): "I want to learn everything you have about fuinjutsu"

(Ashina): *Cough* "Aren't you a little too greedy young man? That is the lifeblood of our clan and comprehend several A and even S rank techniques."

(Hijiri): "I wouldn't be confident with my techniques alone. But I fear you are underestimating the value of my S-rank method. It is a real Yin Release technique with which you could create special weapons and, if refined, even sentient weapons. In front of that teaching a single person your fuinjutsu is quite little."

Ashina fell deep into thought and then said, "I have to think about it. But if those jutsus are real and that method is as good as you say, we have a deal."

They moved to the training field.